Sterling Reveals One-Hour UFC Qatar Deadline

Aljamain Sterling had one hour to decide his next move.

The former UFC bantamweight champion told Yahoo Sports he was given a 60-minute window to accept a featherweight bout against Kevin Vallejos at UFC Qatar on Nov. 21, according to MMA Mania. Sterling said he had just finished training when the offer came through and did not have time to consult his team before the deadline. The bout was announced for the Ali Bin Hamad Al Attiyah Arena in Al Rayyan, with Vallejos serving as co-main event opposite Sterling.

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Why Sterling Turned Down Aaron Pico Fight

Sterling also revealed he rejected a separate offer to face Aaron Pico at UFC 333, the same card headlined by the featherweight title fight. He dismissed the matchup as pointless for his championship goals, noting Pico holds a 1-1 UFC record. "What does that fight do for me?" Sterling said, per the Yahoo Sports interview carried by MMA Mania. "The guy's 1-1. Vallejos makes way more sense." Sterling added that some will accuse him of ducking Pico due to the prospect's wrestling credentials, but he insisted he is the best wrestler in the division and saw no value in rewarding a newcomer over a more established contender.

Sterling is chasing a second UFC title in a different weight class before retirement. He rides a two-fight winning streak after beating Youssef Zalal by unanimous decision in his last outing. Vallejos remains unbeaten in the octagon following a knockout victory over former title challenger Josh Emmett. Sterling compared his current position to the leadup to his fight with Cory Sandhagen, saying he expects to shock observers again in Qatar.

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The winner could move within range of a featherweight title shot, while the loser slides back into the division's packed contender queue.

Reported via:

• MMA Mania — Aljamain Sterling given ‘one hour’ to accept UFC Qatar fight, rejected Aaron Pico — ‘What does that do for me?’